The existence of legendary tunnels left residents divided, with some adamant they did not exist. Others, like Mr Byrnes, believe otherwise.

Mr Byrnes spent more than five years wading through old newspapers, archives and memoirs to collate two large volumes of pictures, clippings, recounts and facts.

Riddled throughout the two volumes, were details of tunnels that residents had stumbled across, fallen into and explored across the 20th century.

“There were three different tunnel systems in Wagga,” Mr Byrnes said.

“There were the King’s Tunnels – for storm drainage – on Mitchelmore Street, the tunnels under the railway line and the Chinese opium tunnels under Fitzmaurice Street.”

Mr Byrnes said he was fortunate to have spoken with former residents about their first-hand experiences before they died.

Since then, he said stories were mostly third hand and businesses had sealed and filled the whatever had remained.

“As a kid, Pat Keigho was told to not go down the tunnel under – Earsman's Dry Cleaning – because it was evil,” he said.

“First thing she did was run down there to have a look.”

He said tunnel remnants, entrances and brickwork had been found near Romano’s and Knight’s Meats, the old David Jones building, Harry Francis’ Quick Print office, the second courthouse and the old Maples building.